ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS


In 1944, administrative direction for the courts of Maryland became the responsibility of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals as "the administrative head of the Judicial system of the State" (Constitution, present Art. IV, sec. 18(b)). Not until 1955, however, did the General Assembly take steps to provide professional administrative staff to assist the Chief Judge with these duties. In that year, the General Assembly created the Administrative Office of the Courts (Chapter 343, Acts of 1955).

The Administrative Office of the Courts provides staff support for the Maryland Judicial Conference, the Conference of Circuit Judges, the Conference of Circuit Clerks, and for the education and training of judges, as well as nonjudicial personnel. The Office serves as liaison for the Judiciary with the legislative and executive branches. It prepares and administers the Judiciary budget; operates information systems; engages in planning; conducts research; and gathers and analyzes statistics and other management information (Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, sec. 13-101).

The Office helps the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals oversee and implement court policies established by the Chief Judge, the Court of Appeals, and the General Assembly. The Office also assists the Chief Judge in the assignment of judges to cope with temporary backlogs or to address shortages of judicial personnel.

The State Court Administrator heads the Office and is appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.

JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

2661 Riva Road, Suite 900
Annapolis, MD 21401

Judicial Information Systems administers data processing systems; collects and analyzes statistics, and maintains computer hardware and software for the Judiciary. The Office also helps State and local judicial agencies meet their data processing and information technology needs. From judicial data files, Judicial Information Systems provides information to judicial, criminal justice and law enforcement agencies.

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